Sandusky Bay and Cedar Point 229 



in some of them the reverse is true. If the stump has a large 

 hollow, estimates of its age are probably not very close. If the 

 hollow is larger than in other stumps of similar size growing near, 

 it is perhaps an indication not of greater age but of more rapid 

 growth. If the stump is on low ground I think it is more likely 

 to be hollow and Bartelle Reinheimer who has assisted in count- 

 the rings has observed that stumps on low ground average fewer 

 rings to the inch than those on higher ground. Doubtless the 

 character of the wood and the abundant moisture both con- 

 tribute to hasten decay. Many of the medium sized stumps are 

 still nearly sound. For the first four inches from the center the 

 number of rings averages about 13 or 14 to the inch and for the 

 next four inches about 17 to the inch. Near the outside of one 

 large stump 59 rings were counted in a single inch. 



Old Ridges. 



Ridge 5 back of the new hotel rises 13 feet above the lake,_ 

 being higher than any of the ridges farther west. The theater,, 

 main paviHon and several other buildings stand upon it. Toward 

 the northwest it diverges from Ridge 6 (1) giving room for a 

 swamp containing a small pond. Although low in this part it is 

 distinctly traceable to the vicinity of the hghthouse. Upon it is 

 the rankest growth of poison ivy and other vines and an abund- 

 ance of scouring rush and False Solomon's-seal. The cotton- 

 woods have attained to old age and many other trees have 

 grown to considerable size — black oak, white pine and basswood, 

 more than 5 feet in circumference, white ash, red elm, sycamore 

 and willow (Salix amygdaloides) more than 3 feet. Several of 

 the cottonwoods exceed 8 feet in circumference. One measuring 

 111 inches was broken off probably by the wind, not less than 18 

 years ago according to Chas. Baetz. Where broken it is rotten 

 but by chopping to the center of it 15 feet from the roots we were 

 able to count about 141 rings. Allowing 10 years for the first 

 15 feet of growth we conclude that this tree started about 170 

 years ago. A few other cottonwoods are larger and were likeh^ 

 larger when this ceased growing. The living cedars on this ridge 

 do not exceed ten inches in diameter but there are a few stumps 

 a foot in diameter. On one of these 85 rings were counted. 

 Another a little larger was not in such condition that the rings 

 could be counted. It was probably but little older. Adding 90 

 to the number of rings counted for reasons given in a preceding 

 paragraph we conclude from this cedar stump that Ridge 5 is 

 not much less than 175 years old. It is likely older but probably 

 not 200 years. We will take 180 years as its approximate age 



